If I post a sign warning of a dog in my yard, am I still liable if it bites a trespasser?

Question

My girlfriend is having a problem with three guys in their early 20s that keep coming on her property (she lives in the country) and s******g around in the barns and the garage. They haven't touched the house yet but I'm wondering how long it will be. When she sees them she locks the door and calls the police, but they always take off before the cops show up (they come on 4 wheelers). She thinks they are trying to find the keys to steal her 4 wheelers, and the keys are in the house so that has me worried as to how far they will go.

If I post signs in her yard that say "NO TRESPASSING: Property Owner Denies All Responsibility If Trespassers Are Viciously Attacked By Rottweiler," will those signs make her legally safe if she was to let her Rottweiler out after them?

'Cause that dog is nice if it knows you, but it will tear the butt right out of your pants and then go for the throat if you don't belong there.

Answer 1

forget all that

make a fake key to the 4 wheeler and put it on the ground and when the guys come hide first and beat the c**p out of them

come on you can do it...thats the only way to deal with jerks

Answer 2

Post a no trespassing sign.  Trespassing law requires they have notice that you do not want them on your property, which the sign will do.  If they trespass on your property you can not be held responsible.  It is similar to the idea that if someone lets their child go into a strangers backyard and the child drowns in your pool, you are not responsible.  Consult a lawyer to be sure, but this information applies to most states.

Answer 3

If you are in the US, you will have to check with your local municipality to see if there are leash laws.  If so, the dog has to be on a leash or safely fenced in.

Disclaimers such as you suggest are not valid.  The only legal duty owed to trespassers is to not intentionally harm them.

If the property is too big to be fenced in, set out some surveillance cameras.

Answer 4

Fit a tracking device and immobiliser on your quad, it sounds like you could get unlucky with the signs, but it was a nice idea. I would shoot at them.  (I also live in a rural area and quad bikes are always being stolen.) You dont want to injure the dog either do you Kitty?.....Kitty?

Answer 5

Yes - put the warning sign up and if you can get a web cam for her shed with the 4 wheelers in it!

That way you will photographic evidence - to nail those jerks.

I live in a rural community and this is a fairly common type of theft out here - especially with quads.  Good luck - can't stand bottom feeders like that.